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Florida Fire Paramedic Rocky Parker Is Ready to Help Israel

(Bradenton [FL] Herald) Wade Tatangelo - It has nothing to do with politics. Or religion. That's the first thing Rocky Parker, a fire lieutenant paramedic at the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department, said when asked about his involvement with the Emergency Volunteers Project. "The Emergency Volunteers Project (EVP) is a non-political, non-affiliated organization dedicated to deploying groups of 'first responders' to Israel during times of crisis and national emergency to work with Israel's emergency services in providing essential, life-saving services to Israel's citizens," begins the EVP mission statement. "I'm not Jewish," he said. "Just a fireman helping other firefighters." Parker was trained in New York City by Israeli firefighters in Israeli fire tactics and procedures. "It was probably the most intense training I have ever done in my life," he said. "Two people there are doing what 12 do in the states." EVP then recently flew Parker to Israel to spend a week and half training and working with Israeli firefighters in their stations to prepare for a national emergency. "The hospitality in Israel really struck me," Parker said. "People were treating us like rock stars....They thought it was amazing we were doing this." Parker said there are more than 100 U.S. firefighters involved.
2011-12-30 00:00:00
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